Coke ditches white Christmas-themed cans due to customer complaints

The Telegraph reports that the Coca-Cola Co. is putting a stop to its Christmas soda can campaign. According to the article, the soda company had manufactured 1.4 billion special edition white cans as part of its Arctic Home campaign. The white cans were launched in November. The company is supporting the World Wildlife Fund by raising funds for endangered species. The Telegraph noted: "It was the first time in 125 years that the regular product had been switched from its trademark red cans."

The Telegraph reports that the Coca-Cola Co. is putting a stop to its Christmas soda can campaign. According to the article, the soda company had manufactured 1.4 billion special edition white cans as part of its Arctic Home campaign. The white cans were launched in November. The company is supporting the World Wildlife Fund by raising funds for endangered species. The Telegraph noted: "It was the first time in 125 years that the regular product had been switched from its trademark red cans."

The special edition cans bear the company’s iconic logo in red. However, the Coke logo set against an all-white background with an image of three polar bears. The Telegraph cited the campaign logo, which said, "We’re turning our cans white because turning our backs wasn’t an option." Buyers were asked to give $1 and the company "pledged to match up to the value of $1 million, to help protect polar bear habitats."

However, as The Telegraph revealed, "Coca-Cola purists gave the new packaging a frosty reception, complaining that the white cans were too easily confused with the silver Diet Coke (or Coke Light in some places) brand, leading some calorie-conscious and diabetic customers to accidentally down the more sugar-packed form."

Though the company assured fans that the drink’s formulation was the same, many insisted that the taste of the cola in the special edition cans was "different." As more and more disgruntled Coke fanatics weighed in, the company eventually decided send millions of red cans back into shops with the same polar bear design in order to pacify angry Coke drinkers. The company had originally planned to keep manufacturing the special edition white cans until March. Due to the unfavorable reception, further production has been ceased. The company is also reportedly recalling existing stocks.